Danny V: High school football pairings dotted with spicy matchups

Reading is the poster child for the quality depth in the Division 2 football playoff field.

The Rockets went undefeated during the regular season, ranked seventh in the latest Boston Herald Sweet 16, and couldn’t even manage to get a home game in the upcoming tournament. Reading earned a No. 9 seed and will open on the road at Bishop Feehan. Should they win, they could be looking at a quarterfinal matchup at the state’s No. 1 team, Catholic Memorial (provided the Knights take care of Woburn in the opening round).

That side of the draw also features two more teams who reside in the top 10 of the Sweet 16, Lincoln-Sudbury and Marshfield. Should each win their first-round contest, that quarterfinal would potentially be one heck of a contest.

On the other side of the draw, No. 6 Barnstable opens against a very dangerous Mansfield team. Natick could be looking at a rematch against Milford in the quarterfinals.

The 8-9 matchup between Methuen and Everett headlines the opening round of the Div. 1 tournament with the winner possibly facing No. 1 Franklin in the quarterfinals. Longtime rivals Brockton and Xaverian meet again with the winner going up against the survivor of Lawrence/Springfield Central.

Marblehead enters the Div. 3 tournament as the top seed and justifiably so, but the Magicians didn’t exactly get a cupcake coming out of the gate. Norwood is a solid 6-2 team out of the Tri-Valley League and has some talented running backs capable of presenting problems.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Billerica hosts West Springfield, while No. 7 Hanover takes on Minnechaug. Should Billerica and Hanover get through, that would make for a good quarterfinal.

Patriot League members Scituate and Duxbury earned the top two seeds in Div. 4. The two met during the season with the Dragons prevailing by a point; the Sailors would love a second crack at Duxbury.

Scituate opens with East Longmeadow and could be looking at a quarterfinal matchup with undefeated Ashland. Wilmington could give Middleboro some problems, while Newburyport will try to slow down a potent Foxboro offense.

There is a definite North Shore flavor atop the Div. 5 seeds as North Reading, Swampscott, Bishop Fenwick and Pentucket hold down the top four spots, respectively. North Reading didn’t get an easy opener as Fairhaven is fully capable of presenting problems.

Dover-Sherborn captured a share of its first TVL title since 1978. The Raiders will open up against a Watertown team that has shown recently it can perform well under pressure. Catholic Central League foes Bishop Fenwick and Austin Prep are on the bottom side of the draw.

Stoneham went through the regular season undefeated, capped off by a 68-point barrage against Burlington. The top seed in Div. 6, the Spartans get Seekonk in the opener then a possible quarterfinal matchup against either Oakmont or Blackstone Valley.

Abington and Rockland acquitted themselves in the always-competitive South Shore League and could be a major player in the field. TVL rivals Bellingham and Medway could very well be the best first-round matchup in the division, while St. Mary’s is healthy again and that could spell trouble.

In Div. 7, Amesbury (2) and Hamilton-Wenham (3) drew high seeds and should be favorites to advance. Mashpee and Nantucket in the opening round is an intriguing matchup.

Latin Academy is the lone EMass wolf on the other side of the draw. The Dragons face Clinton in the first round with the winner getting either top-seed Wahconah or Lunenburg. Northbridge figures to advance to the quarters where either West Boylston or St. Bernard’s awaits.

In Div. 8, KIPP/Manchester-Essex is a terrific first-round matchup between two teams who could very well get to Gillette. Brighton peaked down the stretch and heads west to Palmer for a first-rounder. Lowell Catholic and Hull are two teams who played well against good competition.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3w51DRH